Considering using a 6" S&W L-Frame .357 for deer this season. Deer are thin skinned to begin with, what bullet would be better, hard cast, JHP or JSP.. Hard cast would most likely be a through and through with very little internal damage, same for JSP with maybe a little internal damage and the JHP may open up too much and not provide enough penetration. Any suggestions, other than use a bigger caliber? I really want to try the .357 and keep the range relatively short, similar to bow ranges.

For deer a 158 JHP will work . Limit shots to 50yds or so . Horn XTP , Nosler , Sierra all work well . Push them as fast as you can accurately place them . If you limit range & place your shots well you'll be fine . For 357 hunting I much prefer a rifle as added velocity allows heavier bullets & allows you to extend range . I still limit shots to 75yds personally with a 357 mag . JSP & heavy cast for rifle , JHP & cast for handgun .

I use 158gr jsp over W296. Works fine on our small whitetail and coyotes, but I don't get a shock effect like my .270, so I limit myself to the distance I can hit a plate every time and pass up less than ideal angles. Like a bow, shot placement is very important.

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Science plus Art

Where are you hunting Deer?

Here in Florida, they are barely larger that our big dogs

Up North, they grow to considerably larger proportions

I am in a agreement with using a JSP and 50 - 75 yards is your friend

However, I usually use the Remington 180 SJHP over a LARGE charge of H110 . . . . Once those have faded away, I will probably switch to the Winchester 158 JHPs

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"Acta non verba"

The JHP will expand and use up all its energy, which can be a good thing, if a shoulder bone is not hit...........

The SP tip design will give deeper penetration and maybe an exit hole, for a blood trail, if needed, depending on the bullet.

I have yet to use a .357 JHP on my Nevada deer, though.
Good luck.

Northeast KS/Northwestern MO. Bigger than big dogs but not gigantic. I do have bigger calibers but thought in heavy timber and short range the .357 would be ideal.

I use cast in both 357 and 44 magnum. You have to be careful. I've had them penetrate, then a layer of tissue will shift and cover the holes and there won't be a blood trail. Wish I could get them to expand. I've thought about getting a box of hollowpoint slugs just for deer hunting. I haven't lost a deer yet but it could happen.

Kid44, I have killed close to 100 deer in my life. most of them with a rifle probably 20 or so with a bow a few with black powder and a few with a shotgun sabot. Got one with the bumper on my Buick on the way home one night. I took up handgun hunting for deer about three years ago with a 629 8 3/8" JSP are what you want to shoot. Look at the Hornaday LeverEvolution FTX 140 gr.
https://www.luckygunner.com/labs/rev...llistics-test/

If they’re smaller Whitetail, a Rem/Fed/Rem 158 gr JSP are plenty but limit your shots to bow range, 40 yds or less in the woods.

Personally, I prefer hard cast SWC’s with a large meplat or even a SWC HP (Lyman 358439) pushed to 1,200 FPS. The SWCs will give you some insurance in case you hit shoulder, these will plow through with more than adequate wound channels.

Try Lyman 358439, hollow point version of the 358429 SWC...10 BNH hardness will be adequate and will give good penetration but will expand a bit particularly if you hit shoulder. GT bullets sells a version of this bullet...over 13.0 grs 2400 will give you a very effective Whitetail load. I still prefer a SWC with a large meplat.

Groo here
Depends on where you hit them.....
I aim for the "Basket Ball" [the hart lung area...]
As this could involve bone [rib,shoulder or breast ]
I use a hard cast flat nose at 158 or heaver to be sure of getting to the good stuff.
Dad used Leverevolution from a 5in.
Even with a 357 the range limit is set by how far you can hit, not the gun.
With the correct sight I would have no problems with a 100yd or 150 yd
shot with hard cast from a rifle.
Pistol shots are shorter only because of "hitablity"
Just cant see that well anymore.

I use either a 6.5" RBH or an Encore 20" in 357 mag . The Encore I shoot 180's either the Rem SJHP or a LBT 180 WFNGC ( ACWW + 2% tin cut with 40% pure ) . Cast for hogs , JHP for deer . Same in the Ruger only I use a 158 JHP as I can push them 300 fps faster than a 180 . Again LBT cast for the hogs . A 180 @ 1200 vs a 180 @ 1800 is why I prefer a rifle in 357 mag . As stated above bullet placement is critical & even with a rifle I'll pass on less than optimum shots .

The problem with "Frontal, angle shots", is that it ups the odds of hitting a shoulder bone...............
or if you miss bone, there is a chance of penetration to the prime, Hindquarter, with the 2nd best meat on the deer.

Back in the 70's I did this shot on a Antelope with a 130gr SP/BT that should have stopped in the center of the body cavity.
Something happened and it took out a large portion of the rear Ham, which makes up 50% of the meat on this animal.

That was the last time that I ever took that angle shot and now wait for a better angle or shot placement , otherwise I pass on the animal.

A 180 gr. hard cast from HSM moves along at 1200 fps, a 180 gr hard cast from Buffalo Bore gets down the road at 1400 fps. I have read that the difference of 200 fps you really gain nothing in killing power, all you get is more recoil and muzzle blastand once a certain point is reached a bullet really can't shoot any flatter.

hard cast with a heavy dose of 2400

Cast either neck or shoulders , JHP thru the lungs for deer . Hogs forget a JHP , cast or JSP behind the ear or high shoulder / spine . Same old story put a good bullet that's appropriate for game in the right spot you got meat .

i use a 4inch 357 , 158 grain softpoints. has worked well on the 2 i got with it . a couple yrs ago i grabbed the wrong case from the safe ended up in the woods with a 4inch model 10 38special and 357 ammo. 4hrs from home . after the other 2 guys went into the woods i went to local shop all he had was the 38 special 158 grain hornady custom xtp. i shot a doe at 15 yards it did a flawless job. found partially expanded on off side .